In this chapter

Basic Sentence Structure

Structure 1: Subject + Verb

In English, the order of words indicates their use in the sentence. Subjects generally come before verbs; indirect and direct objects generally follow verbs. In the pattern below, the subject is connected to an intransitive verb—smiled. An intransitive verb is complete without any objects.

Structure 2: Subject + Verb + Direct Object

In the pattern below, the subject is connected to a transitive verb—positioned. A transitive verb requires a direct object to be complete. (Honorato positioned what? The camera.) The direct object receives the action of the verb.

Structure 3: Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

In the pattern below, the transitive verb gave is completed by an indirect object and a direct object. The direct object receives the action of the verb. (Honorato gave what? An engagement ring.) The indirect object tells to whom or for whom the action was done. (Honorato gave an engagement ring to whom? His girlfriend.)

Basic Sentence Patterns

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Advanced Sentence Structure

Structure 4: Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object Complement

In the construction below, the direct object Lupita receives the action of the verb named. The object complement then renames or describes the direct object. This construction is rare, occurring usually with verbs for nominating someone (named, elected, appointed, nominated, called).

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Structure 5: Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement

In the construction below, a linking verb (such as is, are, was, were, will be, seems, appears) connects the subject president with the subject complement Doctor Allan Schnieder. A subject complement either renames or describes the subject.

Structure 6: Linking Verb + Subject + Subject Complement

In the construction below, the linking verb comes before the noun, signaling that the sentence is a question.

Structure 7: Helping Verb + Subject + Verb + Direct Object

To form a question with an action verb, the sentence below begins with a helping verb followed by the subject and then the main verb.

Structure 8: Expletive + Linking Verb + Subject

In the construction below, the expletive there signals that the subject is delayed until after the verb. (The word here is also an expletive.)

Conditional Sentences

Some sentences express a situation that depends on a certain condition’s being met. One clause presents the condition (the conditional clause) and the other clause presents the situation (the main clause). Different conditionals are formed differently.

Factual Conditionals

A factual conditional refers to an actual situation in the present or past tense. The conditional clause starts with a word such as if, when, or whenever, and the verb in the clause matches the tense of the verb in the main clause (both past tense or both present tense).

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Predictive Conditionals

A predictive conditional refers to possibilities. The conditional clause starts with the word if or unless and uses a present-tense verb. The main clause uses a modal (will, can, should, may, might) and a present-tense main verb.

Hypothetical Conditionals

A hypothetical conditional begins with if and refers to a situation that is contrary to fact or is unlikely to happen.

Double Subjects

Double Negatives

Avoid using two negatives when forming a negative statement. Two negatives actually cancel each other out, making the sentence positive.

Incorrect: I didn’t never get my paycheck. I didn’t get no paycheck. I hardly never got paid.

Correct: I didn’t get my paycheck. I didn't get any paycheck. I never got paid.

Omitted Words

Some languages allow the subject of the sentence to be omitted, but in English, most sentences must have a stated subject. In a command, the subject you can be implied. Wash the car. (You wash the car.) All other sentences must have a stated subject.

Incorrect: Is in the garage.

Correct: It is in the garage.

Also, make sure not to omit the expletives there or here.

Incorrect: Is a bucket on the shelf.

Correct: There is a bucket on the shelf.

Repeated Object

In an adjective dependent clause, do not repeat the object.

Incorrect: I need the book that I lent it to you.

Correct: I need the book that I lent to you.

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Idioms

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning is different from the meaning of the words in the expression. Here are some common idioms.

Idiom

Meaning

Example

add fuel to the fire

make a bad situation worse

Criticizing your brother for getting upset will only add fuel to the fire.

an arm and a leg

a great deal of money

That sleek new convertible costs an arm and a leg.

an axe to grind

a dispute with someone

The author had an axe to grind with the critic who disliked his book.

back-seat driver

someone who criticizes without being directly involved

I make all the decisions and take all the responsibility, while you’re just a back-seat driver.

bad apple

someone who causes trouble in a group

That team has a bad apple who is destroying morale.

ball in your court

the next act or decision is yours

After we made our proposal, the ball was in the other company’s court.

beat around the bush

avoid getting to the point

Don’t beat around the bush. Tell me what you really think.

bend over backward

do anything in order to help

The sales staff bends over backward for customer satisfaction.

between a rock and a hard place

between two bad alternatives

The couple could declare bankruptcy or get a second mortgage: They were between a rock and a hard place.

bite your tongue

don’t say what you want to say

My brother didn’t take my advice to get his oil changed. When his engine seized up, I bit my tongue.

break the ice

get a group to interact

Let’s play a party game to break the ice.

chew out

verbally scold

When I showed up late for work, my boss chewed me out.

chip on your shoulder

challenging, looking for a fight

My neighbor was never friendly; he always had a chip on his shoulder.

chow down

eat heartily

At the buffet, the whole team chowed down.

crack up

laugh

When I saw the photo of the dancing dogs, I cracked up.

cross your fingers

wish for a positive outcome

Tonight is the vote on the important law. Cross your fingers!

cup of joe

cup of coffee

I can’t ever focus in the morning until I have a cup of joe.

cut to the chase

get to the point

Cut to the chase: What happened when the police showed up?

dime a dozen

common, easy to acquire

Bad renditions of Christmas carols are a dime a dozen.

drive someone up the wall

annoy someone extremely

The constant dripping from the faucet drove me up the wall.

feeding frenzy

an aggressive group attack

The actor’s drunk driving arrest set off a media feeding frenzy.

get over it

move beyond something troublesome

I know the sales report depressed you, but you have to get over it.

get up on the wrong side of the bed

have a bad attitude, feel grumpy

When he slammed the door, I knew he had gotten up on the wrong side of the bed.

give someone the cold shoulder

ignore someone

I’m always friendly when I see her, but she gives me the cold shoulder.

go for broke

gamble everything

At first I was afraid to ask her out, but I decided to go for broke.

go out on a limb

take a chance, take a risky position

I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that you stop dating people like him.